West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-06-24
RIFLE SHOOTING.
THE OLD KENTUCKY STYLE AND
ITS MODERN NOTIFICATIONS.


The Kentucky Hunters Method of
Taking Aim-The Plainsman's Way.
German Rifcmen-Military style.
In the palmy days Of Creedmoor no man
was better known on the range than Jim
Conlin, the riheman. The veteran has given
up long range shooting, but still talks III
structively about handling firearms.
"What can you tell about the methods and
principles of offhand shooting!' he wss asked.
Il can begin by telling how to stand while
shooting" he replied "The Kentucky style
OF ofThand shooting was the right thing and
hasn't been improved upon. Let US so back
10 the old original Kentucky shooters of the
Daniel Boone type and see how they shot, for
they were the first accurate riflenen in the
world, and rifle shooting may be said to have
been born in the backwOOds Here is genu-
Inc Kentucky squirrel rifle. The barrel Is
forty inches long-ten inches longer than the
sporting rifle of to-day, and there is metal
enough in it FOR a crowbar The whole piece
is four feet eight inches III length and weighs
about twelve pounds. The stock runs the
whole length of the barrel, same as a musket,
and there is a brass box in tho butt for
patches. It takes strong man TO hold such
a gun to his shoulder ofThand, because the
barrel is so heavy forward Old Kentuck
didn't hold it that way when he could find
anything to rest it upon. When he wanted
to draw bead on redskin he looked for
log or a sapling to rest the barrel against.
Powder was powder in those days, and it
didn't pay to waste shot. When there was
no sapling handy the Kentucky hunter made
l., ef, ha6
ramrod that he whitfield out himself, and was
as proud of its perfect shape and finish as a
fisherman is Of his fancy bamboo fly rod. He
would take the ramrod out and hold it in his
left hand, with ono end against his hip. so as
TO make . brace 70 support tho weight Of the
rifle and steady his arm. He would do some
pretty fine shooting at short range. The Ken
tucl,y rifle carried a ball S2-100 of an inch in
diameter, the size of our modern 81 caliber,
and was loaded with not over SIXTY grains of
powder, and twenty rods was considered
pretty good range for accurate shooting with
it ofThand. In loading linen patch was
used to cover the ball and take the grooves,
and, as there was but little friction, the ball
came out smooth and had q low trajectory at
short range
"Now we get down to the Gtentucky style
Of shooting with modern sporting rifle.
The first thing is to stand erect, feet near
together, body easily balanced. Grasp
the fore end between the left thumb and
forefnger at a point just trile forward
OF where the rife win balance The right
hand grasps the stock so that the barrel,
hand, wrist and forearm are in line, the
same as in holding pistol Raise the butt
% the shoulder so that the curve win just
fit. not resting the lower point of the butt
against the shoulder as some DO. The rifie
then falls into the palm of the left hand and
the ends Of the fingers just touch the right
side of the barrel You don't draw tho
rifle toward you with the left hand at
all, but merely support its weight,
with the elbow in a vertical line ex-
actly under the barrel The right elbow
is raised as high rs the top of the ear when
You drop your check against the ball OF your
thumb bringing your right eye in with the
sights. The right hand draws the rifle firmly
against the shoulder, and the fore finger
presses, not pulls, the trigger. The Kentucky
method Of taking aim is to raise the muzzle
in line, and shoot when il gets up TO the right
elevation, although few shoot on the drop.
That is the style of shooting adopted by the
best offhand rihemen i'll the world the
American frontiersmGn Of the past-and
have taught it for great many years An
old Kentucky method of shooting at the word
was to hold the rife butt against the shoulder,
muzzle pointing vertically to the ground,
keep the eye fixed upon the mark, and raise
the rifle, with the butt as a pivot quickly to
the line Of sight
= @The plainsmen of to-day hold rifle differ
~ 4. -, Il
ent conditions, and no doubt their style is
best adapted to their needs. They extend the
left arm to full length without rigidity and
grasp the barrel well out toward the muZzle.
This gives better control over the barrel in
shooting ut moving objects, and the principle
is the same as in trap shooting with scatter
gun. DIR. Carver shoots in this way, and he
demonstrates that the extended arm enables
the shooter 10 follow moving object better
with the muzzle and change the line Of sight
more quickly and accurately. In firing from
horseback the advantages of this style are ap-
parent. The nearer the left hand is TO the
muzzle the less deviation does any accidental
or unavoidable movement of the hand and
arm make in the aim. If the left hand is
close to the trigger guard movement Of half
an inch there viii move the muZZle an inch
and a half at least.
The German method is radically different
from the American. Go to schuetzenfest
and notice how the chaps in KoSSuth hats and
green aprons handle their rifles. They are
GREAT fellows for shooting with rest, but
they do get down to oifhaHd work The
German balances his rife ON the ends of his
left thumb and fingers, with his elbow resting
on his LETT hip The left foot is advanced and
the body bent backward a little to give the
hin rest for the elbow. The right hand bare
" graSps the stock, but the arm is relaxed
aud very little power is exerted by the mus
cles TO press the butt against the shoulder.
hair trigger IS used, and a mere touch fires
the rifle. The Germans do some good shoot
inc. but YOU can't call that sort of thing hold
inc ga.rile. It is simply balancing the piece
and touching the trigger; and it would beim-
practicable for sporting and quick shooting.
Sometimes a German ritleman has handle
about six inches long which he attaches to
the under side of the rifle just for
ward of the guard The end of this
continuance rests in the palm OF his LETT
hand. and in that way he gets better hip
rest without bending his body so much, and
at the same time raises the barrel to the level
Of his eye. OF course some German ritenen
shoot in the American way in this country,
but the method have described is peculiarly
German, and is adhered to by Schuetzen corps
as a rule.
The approved military style of holding
rifle comes nearer to the Kentucky than any
other. the principal difference being that the
RIGHT elbow is rot raised higher tEan the
shoulder. The left hand may be anywhere
f,y.,,syl Of the lock Mate but the best position